Part 2: Underbody

2/27<strong>1</strong> Most Pontiacs haven’t looked this factory fresh since the day they left the dealership lot with the first owner behind the wheel. With just 213 miles on its odometer, this ’77 Trans Am offers a very rare glimpse into the way our beloved Firebirds were assembled at the Norwood, Ohio plant, particularly in April 1977, when it was built.

It isn’t often that we as hobbyists have an opportunity to pore over a Pontiac that hasn’t been altered since the day it left its assembly plant. So when it does occur, it’s really something special.

Our Pontiacs were not always as perfect as we remember them, and nowhere near the concours level we often shoot for today when restoring them!

In the Aug. ’13 issue we brought you the story of a ’77 Trans Am with just 213 miles on its odometer that was factory fresh. It was so well preserved that we simply couldn’t stop there.

In the Sept. ’13 issue, we went over the engine compartment, photo documenting even the smallest details. We pointed out many factory finishes and assembly specifics, sharing anything unique. Also we revealed some clues that seemingly concur with the fact that the assembly line at the Norwood, Ohio-based production facility was moving at a record pace.

In this installment, we crawl beneath the Trans Am to document many of the original finishes, assembly techniques, and paint markings that are visible on this black-and-gold beauty. Despite the fact that the original owner had the dealership apply rubberized undercoating before taking delivery -- which encapsulates some of the details we are searching for some 35 years later -- there’s plenty we discovered on this low-mile treasure that simply wouldn’t remain on a car with many more miles.

"It was so well preserved that we simply couldn’t stop there... our Pontiacs were not always as perfect as we remember them."

27/27<strong>25</strong> Black chrome exhaust splitters were originally planned to be part of the ’76 Special Edition Trans Am. While a few cars were fitted with them that model year, procurement issues left Pontiac with no choice but to install traditional chrome units on most of the S/E T/As. HPP has documented at least one other ’77 S/E T/A equipped with black chrome splitters, which were likely leftovers from the previous model year, or installed sporadically throughout the ’76 and ’77 model years, as the supplier fulfilled the volume requirement. Unlike the rest of the car, which is extremely well preserved, their finish is pitted and rusty.